Drape and fixture for hanging the same



1953 M. c. BISHQP 2,648,379

DRAPE AND FIXTURE FOR HANGING THE SAME Filed July 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MORRIS C. BISHOP kMgW.

ATTO R N EYS Aug. 11, 1953 Filed July 20, 1950 M. C. BISHOP DRAPE AND FIXTURE FOR HANGING THE SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MORRIS C. BISHOP BY MUM 001W? ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1953 M. C. BISHOP DRAPE AND FIXTURE FOR HANGING THE SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 20, 1950 INVENTOR. MORRIS c. BISHOP 76 1 0022311345,

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

DRAPE AND FIXTURE FOR. HANGING THE SAME Morris C. Bishop, West-Orange, N. J Application July 20, 1950, Serial No. 174,877

l Claims. 1'

The present invention pertains to improvements in drapes and fixture for hanging the same.

An object of the invention is to provide drapes formed with improved means for attachment to supporting fixtures.

Another object is to provide improved supporting fixtures for hanging the draperies at windows, door openings and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the above nature adapted to mold and retain the folds of the draperies.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type including a plurality of resilient members adapted toform folds in the upper ends of the drapes, a guide track, and suitable carriages slidable along the track, the resilient members being removably supported by the carriages in cantilever relation.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the above nature in which pin hooks, sliding rings and the like are eliminated, and in which the at-- taching and hanging means are normally concealed from view.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type in which the folds of drapery are supported firmly and without sag in all positions.

A still further object is to provide quick and easy attachment and removal of the drapes.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type in which the positions of the drapes may be readily adjusted and in which the folds are maintained in uniformity inboth open and closed positions.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the above type which is strong, durable and of attractive appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come evident during the course of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention illustrating the drapes in closedposition;

Figure 2 is a similar view but with the drapes in separated position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective detail view showing the manner of installing the spring folder members in the upper border of a drape;

Figure 4 is a detail cut-away view showing the track, carriages, and means for attaching the spring members to the carriages;

Figure 5 illustrates a drape with suitable border pockets for receivin the spring folders;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating anarrangementfor shifting the support by means of a cord; and

Figure '7 is a similar view showing the folders in open position.

Referring to Figure l, the numerals I9 and II designate a pair of fabric drapes each having a plurality of pockets or tunnels I 2 in their upper borders. A transverse track or channel rod 13 is adapted to carry a plurality of slidable carriages M for supporting the drapes l0 and II in a manner best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the rod [3 preferably comprises a C-shaped channel section, the slot or opening l5 being at the rear of the section. Each carriage M consists of a short angle member l6 having a vertical rear leg ll to which is attached an H-shaped block l8 adapted to slide and be retained in the track slot [5.

Two spaced upwardly extending pins [9 are secured to the front of each carriage it and are adapted to slidably carry the looped ends 29 of a plurality of generally U-shaped leaf spring folder members 2|. Two inner carriages 22, similar'in general structure to carriage I4 but each equipped with only one pin l9 form the inner mounting means for the two drape hanging assemblies illustrated, while two outer carriages 23, each also having a single pin l9 provide the outer terminal mountings. The outer carriages 23 are preferably anchored in the ends of the rod l3.

Two small grooved pulleys 24 are rotatably mounted onthe back of one outer terminal carriage 23- as shown in Figures 1', 2 and 4, while the other terminal carriage 23 is equipped with a single similar pulley 25. The functions of these pulleys and their associated cord 26 are best illustrated in diagrammatic Figures 6 and '7, and will be described hereafter in connection therewith.

To provide for even fold spacing when the drapes aredraw-n out, the terminal carriages 22 and 23' of each drape supporting combination and the associated carriages I' l are connected by suitablelinking means, illustrated herein by a cord 21, Figure 4. The carriages M may be socured to the cord Z'l with proper spacing to provide any desired width of open folds.

Obviously various other spacing means such as bead chains or link chains may be used in place of the cord 21 illustrated. Similar, the device-may obviously be applied to a single drape instead of a pair thereof if desired.

In installing. the device the channel rod i3 is rigidly secured to the supporting door or window frame by means of suitable brackets 28, Figures 1 and 2 The spring members 2| are inserted in the upper pockets I 2 oi the drapes lit ll asillustrated Figure 3. The members 21! are then slid down into place on the pins l9, each member engaging the pins of two adjacent carriages I4, 22 or 23. The carriages are prevented from rocking by the close fit of the H-blocks I8 in the slotted channel rod I3, while the snug fit of the looped spring ends 20 on the pins I9 similarly prevents vertical rocking at these points. The members 2|, while resilient in the horizontal plane, have a high degree of rigidity in the vertical direction due to the ample width of the spring stock from which they are made.

As a result of the above combination, the drapes I and I I are suspended in a series of regular folds each supported vertically in substantially rigid cantilever relation, thus preventing any sag and achieving a neat and attractive appearance. The neatness and attractiveness are augmented by the absence of any hanging rings, hooks or similar attaching devices extending visibly above the drapes as in prior fixtures.

Referring to the rear diagrammatic views of the opening and closing mechanism, Figures 6 and '7, it will be seen that the cord 26 is looped around the pulley 25 to form two transversse strands 29 and 30 running over the pulleys 24 and terminating in weighted handles or bobs 3| and 32 respectively. One inner carriage 22 is secured to the strand 29-while the other inner carriage is similarly secured to the strand 30. Pulling downward on the handle 32 moves the strand 38 to the right and the strand 29 to the left, thus moving the inner carriages 22 toward each other as shown in Figure 6, to the extent permitted by the limiting cord 21, Figure 4, so that the drapes are closed as illustrated in Figure 1. Similarly, pulling the handle 3| downward as in Figure 7 draws the inner carriages 22 apart, collapsing the supporting structures outward to open the drapes as in Figure 2. In either position the spring members flex evenly to provide uniform folds. The cantilever action supporting the weight of the drapes l0 and I I places sufficient pressure and consequent friction between the H-blocks I8 and the channel rod I3 to retain the assembly in any desired position against tendency to slip due to resilient pressure of the sprin members 2|.

While the elements of the curtain-drawing combination are widely spaced in diagrammatic Figures 6 and 7 for clarity in illustration, it will be understood that the horizontal cord strands 29 and 30, together with their associated pulleys, lie behind the rod I3 and are therefore normally invisible from the front of the device. This provision, together with the rigid cantilever support of the drapes by the spring member 2| completes the practical concealment of the working parts in all positions, assuring the attractive front appearance previously noted. The drapes I0 and II are normally made with sufficient extensions 33 on the inner and outer vertical edges to conceal the ends of the rod I3, the pulleys 24 and 25, the inner edges of the carriages 22 and the associated members 2|. These extensions 33, shown in Figures 1 and 2, have been partially cut away in these figures to disclose the structures behind them, but it will be understood that in practice they reach to the tops of the drapes.

Thus the structure as described throughout provides a mounting fixture in which all working parts are concealed from the front, and in which the only stationary part normally visible even with the drapes in the open position of Figure 2 is the central portion of the channel rod I3, which may be given any polished, painted or otherwise appropriate finish desired.

The spring folded members 2| are preferably made so that in normal or unflexed state they stand open as shown in Figure 3. This condition allows them to be inserted in and removed from the hem pockets I2 with great ease and quickness. This feature is an important advantage over prior devices employing multiple-joint extenders or continuous sinusoidal springs, either of which must be inserted throughout or attached to the entire upper hem of the drapes with obvious difficulty, particularly in the case of the sinusoidal springs which are relied upon to collapse the drapes and are therefore formed of comparatively stiff spring stock with their convolutions closely pressed together. The purpose of the spring members 2| of the present invention is not to provide traction but to combine the functions of shaping the drapery folds and supporting them in rigid cantilever relation, eliminating overhead rings, hooks or other unsightly and complicated mounting means, as previously set forth.

The spring members 2|, while generally U- shaped, may obviously be formed with various contour details, for example to provide substantially box shaped folds if desired. The spacing of the pins I9 on each carriage and corresponding spacing of the pockets I2 prevent sagging of the inner folds.

In addition to the ease with which the members 2| are inserted in and removed from the individual pockets I2, the similar ease of slipping the looped ends 20 of the spring members 2| on or off the pins I9, together with the automatic spacing provided by the use of the individual hem pockets I2, makes proper mounting or unmounting of the drapes for any purpose a quick operation requiring a minimum of skill and effort.

It will also be evident that the device is of inherently strong and simple construction adapted to long use without rapid wear either of the fixture itself or the drapes supported thereby.

The H-blocks I8 may advantageously be made of hard plastic material to provide low friction and long wearing qualities.

While the invention has been described in preferred form it is not limited to the exact structures illustrated, as various change and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fixture for hanging drapes, in combination, a hollow horizontal track having a longitudinal slot in one side thereof, a plurality of carriages having a longitudinal slot in the rear side thereof slidable horizontally on said track but restrained by said track from vertical rocking, rigid portions on said carriages extending horizontally outward beyond the front side of said track and a plurality of independent fold-forming members retained on said rigid portions in individually removable relationship and extending outward therefrom in cantilever relation in front of said track, said members engaging said drapes and to support the same in front of said track.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein said fold-forming members comprise individual substantially U-shaped unitary spring members having resilience in the horizontal direction and substantial rigidity in the vertical direction.

3. In a fixture for supporting a drape, in combination, a horizontal track, means to secure said track rigidly to a supporting surface, a plurality of carriages on said track, said track and said carriages having cooperative engaged surfaces shaped to restrain said carriages from rocking in vertical planes, a plurality of horizontally flexible and vertically rigid independent cantilever members each engaging said drape to support the same and to form a fold therein each of said cantilever members being retained in individually removable relationship in front of said track on two of said carriages adjacent each other, one of said carriages being anchored to said track and said other carriages being slidable along said track to flex said cantilever members horizontally, and means independent of said cantilever members and linking said adjacent carriages to limit the separation thereof on said track.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein 15 said carriages have rigid vertical pins secured thereon, and wherein said cantilever members comprise unitary spring strips of substantially U-shape having ends shaped to slidably engage 5 said pins from the unobstructed tops thereof.

MORRIS C. BISHOP.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,973,487 Kenney et al Sept. 11, 1934 2,366,986 Siden Jan. 9, 1945 2,512,736 Brenner et a1 June 27, 1950 2,559,072 Hasselwander July 3, 1951 

